System and method of temperature equalization applied to the door of electrical home appliances

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a system and a method of temperature equalization applied to the door ( 12, 24, 30 ) of electrical home appliances by means of the circulation of air within the freezing compartment ( 23 ), the freezer compartment ( 11 ) or the refrigeration compartment ( 16 ), as may be the case, in order to eliminate regions wherein the air stands still. The said circulation comprises the forced moving of the air between at least one air inlet opening ( 34 ) and at least one air outlet opening ( 15, 25, 35, 36 ), the said forced moving being provided by the action of at least one ventilation fan ( 13, 26, 37 ), installed in the air inlet opening or in the air outlet opening. The said openings are positioned in regions of different temperatures within the compartment, and are interconnected by means for conducting the airflow ( 14, 27, 34 ), which means may be provided by means of ducts.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a System for equalization of temperature for application to the door of electrical home appliances, and more specifically, to refrigeration apparatuses, these latter possibly being of the “cycle defrost” type, when the defrosting is performed at each cycle of the compressor (technically known as CycleDefrost), automatic, when the defrosting is controlled autonomously by the refrigerator (technically known as NoFrost or FrostFree) or manual, when there is required the intervention of the user to perform the defrosting, such system being applicable irrespective of the product being provided with one, two or more doors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

From the dawn of human existence there has existed the need of conserving food in order to allow the storage thereof. The first domestic refrigerator was produced in 1913 Fred W. Wolf Junior in the city of Chicago, and was called Domelre (Domestic Electric Refrigerator). Only in the year of 1925 were manufactured the first refrigerators comprising in one single unit the refrigeration box and the motor, the compressor and the condenser (a trio that formerly existed separately, located beside or below the refrigerator).

Between 1890 and 1929, the refrigerators used toxic gasses as refrigerants. Some examples included ammonia (NH₃), methyl chloride (CH₃CL) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂). In 1928, an American engineer, Thomas Midgley, developed the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as substitutes for the toxic gasses, among which CFCs there should be pointed out the Freon (CCL₂F₂).

Tragically, only by 1973 the American chemical experts Frank Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina became aware of the deleterious effect of the CFCs to the planet's ozone layer. The refrigeration gas directly used for the last 2 decades to substitute the gasses CFCs, R22 and R12 in domestic refrigerators is the R134a.

In addition to the evolution of the refrigeration systems, the domestic refrigerators aggregated quality with the development of temperature control systems, forced ventilation systems, automatic defrosting systems, application of new materials with better performance, design, ergonomics, beauty, practicality, etc.

During the decade of the nineteen nineties, there was a great concern over the power consumption of home appliances, particularly of refrigerators. This decade saw the implementation of the energy consumption classification tag, whereby the refrigerators are classed according to their energy consumption level. Thus, the present invention considers the growing concern towards reducing the level of energy consumption of domestic refrigerators, and is supposed to contribute to the continuous reduction of such levels.

ANALYSIS OF THE PRIOR ART

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,437, which title is Refrigeration for Discharging Cool Air from a Door, there is described a refrigerator wherein the door of the refrigeration compartment comprises a duct embedded therein comprising a cold air suction opening located on the inner face of the door and several cold air diffusion openings, also located on the said inner face. In FIGS. 3 and 4 of the cited document, reproduced in the instant application as FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, there are respectively illustrated a side section of the refrigeration compartment and the door in question. As may be observed, the fan 90 is installed on the suction opening 83 of the vertical duct 80 ending at the upper and lower regions of the door at the diffusion openings 81. As indicated by means of the arrows, the said fan extracts the cold air from the central region of the refrigeration compartment and injects the same into the upper and lower regions next to the door, in order to improve the cooling of the foodstuffs stored on the shelves 76 of the door, that are normally exposed to the ambient heat whenever the door is opened.

As may be observed in the cross-section view of FIG. 1, the cold air intended to cool that compartment originates from the freezer (not shown) and is introduced by way of the duct 68. Due to the higher density of the cold air, the same tends to accumulate on the lower region 91 of the refrigerator. Consequently the mode of distribution as presented evidences a loss of efficiency in the process, since that approximately one half of the volume of cold air drawn by the fan 90 is conveyed to the said lower region, which is already naturally the coldest region of the compartment.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

In light of what has been set forth above, the object of the present invention consists in the provision of a temperature equalization system for refrigerators that is more efficient than those currently known, such as those presented in the above cited reference.

One other object consists in the provision o a temperature equalization system able to be used in freezing compartments, freezer apparatuses and refrigeration compartments.

One other object of the invention consists in the provision of a system that does not require alterations in the refrigeration system.

One other object consists in the provision of a system that may be used in refrigerators irrespective of the latter being provided with one, two or more doors.

One other object consists in the provision of a temperature equalization system that might also be used in other type of electrical home appliances, maintaining the basic operating principle thereof, for example, in ovens and cooking apparatuses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above mentioned objects, as well as others, are achieved by the invention by means of the provision of means that cause the circulation of air within the freezing compartment, the freezer apparatus or the refrigerator, as may be the case, in order to eliminate the regions wherein the air stands still.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the said circulation comprises the displacement of air between regions with different temperatures, using one or more ventilation fans for such purpose.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the means used comprise a ventilation fan associated with an arrangement that comprises at least an air inlet and an air outlet located in different regions of the compartment, interconnected by means for conducting the air flow between the said inlet and the said outlet, the said arrangement being installed on the door of the compartment under consideration, in order to promote a forced circulation of the air, homogenizing the distribution of temperature within the said compartment.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the said different regions correspond to different levels of the compartment.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the presently proposed system may be used in cycle defrost type products, when the defrosting is effected at each cycle of the compressor (technically known as CycleDefrost), automatic type products, when the defrosting is autonomously controlled by the refrigerator (technically known as NoFrost or FrostFree) or manual type products, when there is required the intervention of the user to effect the defrosting, in products having either 1 (one), 2 (two) or more doors.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the proposed system may be used to equalize the temperature only in the freezing compartment or freezer, in the refrigerating compartment or in both compartments (freezer and refrigerator or freezing compartment and refrigerator).

According to another characteristic of the invention, the temperature equalization system is applied to the door of refrigeration apparatuses, thereby avoiding the need of alterations in the refrigeration system.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the proposed system promotes an orientation of the direction of the airflow in regions of interest

Similarly, the present invention works in the door of a cooking apparatus, homogenizing the temperature in the oven compartment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The remaining characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood by means of the description of preferred exemplary embodiments thereof, given merely as examples and not in any limitative sense, and of the drawings to which such embodiments refer, wherein:

In FIG. 1 there is illustrated, in a cross-sectional view, a known system of homogenization of temperature in the refrigeration compartment.

In FIG. 2 there is shown the piping embedded in the door of the refrigerator of the preceding figure.

In FIG. 3 there is shown, by means of a cross-sectional view of a two-door refrigerator equipped with a system according to the invention, one of the possible embodiments of the airflow within the freezer compartment.

In FIG. 4 there is depicted, by means of a cross-sectional schematic view, the door of the freezer compartment according to the principles of the present invention.

In FIG. 5 there is shown, by means of a cross-sectional view, the temperature equalization system of the freezing compartment applied to refrigerators with a single-door cabinet.

In FIG. 6 there is detailed, by means of a perspective view, the temperature equalization system applied to the door of the freezing compartment, in the single-door refrigerator illustrated in the preceding figure, comprising a ventilation fan, an internal ducts arrangement and air outlets.

In FIG. 7 there is depicted, in an exploded view, an alternative construction of the proposed system applied to the door of the freezing compartment, in a refrigerator with a single-door cabinet.

In FIG. 8 there is shown a cross-sectional view of the door of the freezing compartment relative to the construction of the preceding figure.

In FIG. 9 there is shown, by means of a perspective view, the flow of air in the alternative construction exemplified in the two preceding figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a solution for improving the circulation of air in refrigeration systems, whereby this invention may be used in cycle defrost type products, in which the defrosting is effected at each cycle of the compressor (technically known as CycleDefrost), automatic type products, whereby the defrosting is controlled autonomously by the refrigerator (technically known as NoFrost or FrostFree) or manual type products, in which there is required an intervention from the part of the user to effect the defrosting, such including products having 1 (one), 2 (two) or more doors.

The present invention may be used in conventional refrigerators for distributing the air only within the freezing compartment, in the freezer or in the refrigeration compartment or both (freezer and refrigerator or freezing compartment and refrigerator). Furthermore, the presently proposed system will also be able to be used in horizontal-type freezers with one or two doors, as well as in vertical-type freezers. The invention consists in a ventilation fan, means for conducting the airflow, that may be provided by way of a ducting arrangement, either internal or external, air outlets or air inlets, such that, upon being applied to the door of a refrigeration system, the present invention promotes the forced circulation of the air, homogenizing the temperature within the compartment in question.

The ventilation fan may be installed inside the door or even at the external part thereof, since this does not change the objects of the present invention, as the purpose of the ventilation fan consists in driving the air in motion within the compartments (forced ventilation).

Variations whereby the ventilation fan either sucks or blows the air also do not change the objectives and results of the present invention. Variations in the shapes and positions of the air outlets or of the air inlets also do not affect the objectives and results of the present invention, since the specific function of the air outlets and air inlets consists in directing the airflow towards predetermined regions. The shape and disposition of the ducting arrangement, either internal or external, do not affect the general purposes of the invention.

Specific aspects of the invention are depicted in the figures of the attached drawings for a question of convenience, wherein each aspect may be combined with other aspects as might be needed, within the scope of the same inventive aspect. Thus, FIG. 3 exemplifies the application of the system according to the invention to the freezer compartment 11 of a refrigerator 10 with two doors. As illustrated in FIG. 3 and detailed in FIG. 4, the door 12 of the freezer is equipped with a ventilation fan 13 installed in an air suction opening, which extends along a substantially vertical duct 14 and ends in at least one air outlet 15. As may be observed in that exemplary embodiment, the air is sucked near the lower region, or level, of the door 12, that is, next to the lower region of the freezer compartment 11, and is again expelled into that same compartment through the said at least one air outlet 15, located on a different region or level relatively to that of the aspiration opening; in this case, this level is the upper level. This forced movement of the air causes a closed-circuit type circulation, as indicated by the arrows, resulting in an equalization of the temperature in the entire freezer compartment. In the case of there being used two or more outlets, the same should preferentially be located at the same height.

Alternative embodiments will be understood as being possible by technicians skilled in the art, and should be included in the scope of the claims. Thus, for example, the sense or direction of circulation of the air within the compartments in which the system is applied might be different from that which is illustrated in the figures.

In FIG. 5 there is exemplified, by means of a cross-sectional view, the application of the proposed system to a refrigerator 20 having a cabinet with a single door 21 wherein are mounted the shelves 22. As illustrated, the temperature equalization system is mounted in the door 24 of the freezing compartment 23, and comprises a fan 26, which draws the cold air from the lower region of the said compartment and expels the said air through the opening 25, located at the upper region of that same compartment, thereby promoting the circulation of air within the same. In FIG. 6 there are depicted further details of the proposed system by way of a view in perspective thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the air drawn by the ventilator fan 26 is directed towards the air outlet openings 25 by means of a set of ducts 27 (represented in dashed lines) embedded in the door 24.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 present an alternative constructive arrangement, in which the means used to conduct the airflow dispense the use of ducts. As illustrated, the door 30 of the freezing compartment (not shown in these figures) comprises the thermally insulating main panel 31, over which inner face turned towards the freezing compartment, there is superimposed a tray 32, preferably molded from a thermoplastic material, with or without a layer of thermal insulation material. This tray has a depth 33, which is sufficient to accommodate the ventilation fan 37 and the supporting pedestal thereof 38, which for a question of constructive convenience, is affixed to the said inner face of the panel 31. The said tray has a circular opening 34 for aspirating air, in a position corresponding to that of the ventilation fan 37 and with sufficient diameter to accommodate the propeller thereof. Furthermore, this tray has two openings 35 and 36, located at a level that is different from that of the said aspiration opening. Thus, when the assembly is mounted by superimposing the tray 32 over the said panel, there is formed a cavity or “plenum” 34, as detailed in FIG. 8. The air drawn by the ventilation fan 37 is impelled into the plenum and is thereby diffused, as illustrated by the dashed-line arrows of FIG. 9, towards the openings 35 and 36, through which it is insufflated into the freezing compartment. This construction allows a reduction of the production costs of the system, since it dispenses the use of flow directing ducts, the flow proceeding normally from the aspiration opening 34 to the outlet openings 35 and 36. Eventually, there may be provided on the inner face of the tray 32 ribs integrally molded therewith and provided such as to orient the airflow between the said aspiration and outlet openings.

In an optional alternative construction, there may be inserted blocks of thermally insulating or non-thermally insulating material between the inner faces of the walls that form the plenum, the said blocks having shapes and dispositions such that they form channels that direct the air flow between the inlet and outlet openings.

The presently introduced innovation is not limited to the representations commented or illustrated herein, and should be understood in terms of its fullest broad scope. Many modifications and other representations of the invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which such innovation pertains, having the benefit of the teaching presented in the previous descriptions and in the attached drawings. Consequently, it should be understood that the innovation in question is not limited to the form thereof having been specifically disclosed herein, and that modifications and other forms are understood as included in the scope of the claims attached to the instant document. Among the possible constructive variants there should be pointed out those relative to vertical freezers, as well as to horizontal freezers of one or two doors, where in such case the aspiration and in-blowing regions might be located at the same level.

Although specific terms are employed herein, such terms are used merely in a generic and descriptive form and without any limitative purpose.

Therefore, the preceding description should be understood as illustrative rather than limitative with regard to the scope of protection of the invention and all obvious alterations and modifications are comprised in the scope of protection defined by the claims attached hereto. 

1. A temperature equalization system applied to the door of electrical home appliances, which door might correspond to the freezer compartment (1 1), to the freezing compartment (23) to the refrigeration compartment (17, 21), to a cooking compartment or yet to a horizontal-type or vertical-type freezer, constituted by at least one ventilation fan (13, 26, 37), means for conduction of the flow of air (14, 27, 34) interconnecting at least one air inlet opening (34) with at least one air outlet opening (15, 25, 35, 36), characterized in that said at least one air inlet opening is located substantially in a first region of the said compartment in which the temperature is different from the temperature present in a second region of that same compartment, wherein is located at least one air outlet opening, wherein one of the said openings is associated with the said ventilation fan.
 2. A system, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the said first region corresponds to a position of lower air temperature within the said compartment, with the said second region corresponding to a position of higher air temperature.
 3. A system, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the said first region corresponds to a position of higher air temperature within the said compartment and the said second region corresponds to a position of lower air temperature.
 4. A system, as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the air inlet opening is located in the said first region.
 5. A system, as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the air inlet opening is located in the said second region.
 6. A system, as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the ventilation fan (26, 37) is located in the said air inlet opening (34).
 7. A system, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the ventilation fan is located in an air outlet opening.
 8. A system, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two or more air outlet openings (25, 35, 36), all of these being located substantially at the same level.
 9. A system, as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the said means for conducting the flow of air are provided by ducts (14, 27) positioned internally with relation to the door (12, 24) where the system is installed.
 10. A system, as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the said airflow conducting means are provided by ducts positioned externally with relation to the door where the system is installed.
 11. A system, as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the said means for conducting the flow of air are provided by a plenum (34) associated with the door (30) where the system is installed.
 12. A system, as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that it is applied to the door (24, 31) of the freezing compartment (23).
 13. A system, as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that it is applied to the door (12) of the freezer compartment (11).
 14. A system, as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that it is applied to the door (17) of the refrigeration compartment (16).
 15. A system, as claimed in claim 1, characterized by including insufflating air in a specific internal accessory.
 16. A system, as claimed in claim 1, characterized by including exhausting air in a specific internal accessory.
 17. A system, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it is applied to cooking apparatuses.
 18. A method for equalization of temperature applied to the door of electrical home appliances, characterized by providing the circulation of air within one or more compartments (11, 16, 23) by aspirating or drawing air through an aperture associated to the said door (12, 24, 31) located in a first region of the said one or more compartment(s) and insufflating air through at least one opening (15, 25, 35, 36) located in a second region of the same compartment.
 19. A method, as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the said first region corresponds to a position of lower air temperature within the said compartment, and the said second region corresponds to a position of higher air temperature therein.
 20. A method, as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the said first region corresponds to a position of higher air temperature within the said compartment, and the said second region corresponds to a position of lower air temperature therein.
 21. A method, as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the aspiration of the air is provided by means of a ventilation fan (13, 26, 37).
 22. A method, as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the air is insufflated by means of a ventilation fan.
 23. A method, as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the said first region corresponds to a first level of the said one or more compartment(s), and the said second region corresponds to a second level of the said one or more compartment(s). 